Pilate

According to the Gospels, Pilate in the life of Jesus Christ is only a faint figure who appeared to fulfil what was written. In non-Christian historical sources, however, we can also look at this “story” from the other side. The cult personality of Christians became only a short and marginal diversification of Pilate’s political power. So what was the man who killed Christ? 

The beginning of the birth of anti-Semitism?

In 26 AD, an influential soldier came to Judea to establish order and suppress riots that arose mainly due to taxes. The Roman historian Tacitus aptly expressed the Roman idea of ​​establishing peace: “The Romans will create a desert and call it peace.” However, the Gospel portrays Governor Pilate as a weakling. But the fact that you kept power in Judea for ten years speaks to his skill. His capable government overshadows the crucifixion of Christ. Is it really true that, following the request made by the Jewish priests, he washed his hands of the matter? Could a soldier and a politician of that era make such gestures? A historian portrayed him as cruel, stern, and therefore capable of being a governor. He stands as a shadow over the fact that for almost 2000 years there has been some unwritten hostility between the Christian and Jewish communities. Is it possible for us, for two millennia, to believe that all the blame for the death of Jesus is borne on the shoulders of the Jews and the Romans, looking at everything with reluctance? If they could, would they stop everything? But this is a totally distorted truth that probably led to the birth of anti-Semitism. All this was to be caused by an innocent scene described by Matthew in his gospel, where Pilate is relieved of responsibility and fully transferred to the Jews. It is a curse that the Jewish population cannot get rid of. But the Romans also had their own reasons for wanting to remove Jesus.

Pilate as an intelligent diplomat and high priest

While the other stewards of Jude excelled in cruelty, they were crazy and violent; Pilate was an intelligent diplomat. The fact that his “peaceful tactic” was based on him was also evidenced by the fact that during his administration only three people were crucified. His predecessor, Gratus, executed up to two hundred such executions. Pilate proves that even the Prefect, an army rank, does not need to strengthen his strength with a weapon, but with sharpness and cunning.

Pilate was also a Roman high priest. This greatly influenced his thoughts and actions. The cult of imperialism he brought to Judea provoked the local Jews. The Prefect had to learn to treat them so he did not have to shed blood, while still gaining authority and maintaining order.

Jesus gets into Pilate’s sphere of influence.

Judea strongly desired freedom, and at that time a preacher, Jesus, appeared in Galilee, speaking of the coming Kingdom of God. It gives hope. However, we must realise that he was not the first to claim to be a savior. At least three others had claimed that title before him. Pilate noticed Jesus, but he hoped to deal with his tolerated but not the most popular ally of Herod Antipas, the steward of Galilee. But Jesus escaped Herod’s hostility and got into Pilate’s sphere of influence.

Mock Alliance

Jewish holidays celebrating God were traditionally held in Jerusalem. Pilate came here three times a year to ensure everything ran smoothly. However, the presence of troops provoked the Jews and paradoxically led to greater tension.

To put himself under the skin of the Jews, Pilate, by using proven tactics, pretended an alliance with a high aristocracy and temple priests who regarded themselves as the natural leaders of the crowd. Because the Jewish high priest chose the prefect, the priests took it from his hand. The high priest Caiaphas, also known from the Gospel, mediated between Pilate and the people.

Jesus is an out-of-the-ordinary model.

Jesus’ influence grew. He acted as a roar but did not fit into any model. Thus, a potential enemy was born, but Pilate did not know how to deal with it. For Jesus never preached directly against the Romans. But for Jewish priests, this was about something else. He openly attacked them, questioned their behaviour, and provoked them, for example, by pretending to be a walking temple distributing forgiveness.